SEQUIM— The Olympic Medical Cancer Center has earned a three-year accreditation in radiation oncology from the American College of Radiology.
The cancer center at 844 N. Fifth Ave. is one of four medical centers in the state with such a distinction.
Accreditation comes after a stringent technical and quality review of the cancer program, specifically in radiation oncology.
Radiation oncology, also known as radiation therapy, is the precise use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer.
Olympic Medical Center officials said the American College of Radiology accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety.
The accreditation was announced at the OMC commissioners’ meeting Wednesday.
“The ACR accreditation is the best measuring stick to know that what we are doing at Olympic Medical Cancer Center is the very best work possible,” said Dr. Rena Zimmerman, radiation oncologist.
“This accreditation is a voluntary process, but we know there is a difference of thinking and believing we provide the best cancer care possible, and actually having an independent review such as this that confirms what we knew,” Zimmerman said.
“This is the most stringent review on the market, and through this, we demonstrated that we are one of the best.”
The other facilities in Washington state with ACR accreditation in radiation oncology are St. Francis-Virginia Mason Radiation Oncology in Federal Way, VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle and Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, according to www.acr.org.
Other accreditation
Olympic Medical Cancer Center is also accredited by The Joint Commission, The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the Department of Health.
Dr. Michael Shevach, medical director of radiation oncology at Olympic Medical Cancer Center, said the application process for ACR accreditation was extensive.
“Between our physician leadership, dosimetrists, physicists, radiation therapists and information technology, there is a huge amount of work that goes into earning this certification,” Shevach said.
“Our staff’s dedication to patient safety and providing quality care is outstanding.”
OMC officials said the cancer center provides the latest cancer technologies and treatments, including the Varian TrueBeam, the most advanced linear accelerator available today.
For more information about Olympic Medical Cancer Center, visit www.OMCforHope.com or phone the cancer center at 360-683-9895.